Moving

Just gave our thirty days notice, we're in escrow on a house in Petaluma. Yeah, real estate is in a bubble, but we think we've got a reasonable deal, it's a place we can plan on living in for decades to come, and if this housing thing further settles itself out via inflation (as I expect), having the bank hold that money with fixed interest seems like a good idea. And if prices deflate, well, we're not buying this as an investment, we want a nest, and the overall price is such that we won't be house poor.

I wish I could lend you a hand in the move! Unfortunately, you could hire a team of folks at the Home Depot for the price of my airfare...

Having owned a home and having rented again for quite a few years (and will continue for a few more), I completely understand your point of view. The house you chose is a very manageable size (unlike my old house) and in exactly the neighborhood you want to be in. You also have greater freedoms for modifying the place as you like. That's one of the things I miss as a tenant. Of course, I still tend to make a lot of "improvements" knowing that they can mostly be undone with a little effort.

There's also a huge advantage to staying in the same spot for many years. You learn when the leaves fall from the trees. Where the moon rises at different times of the year. Who your neighbors really are... Ok... maybe they aren't all that great!

I'll be in the silicon valley the first three weeks of january, and I like helping people move (a way to
legitimately get to go through someone else's stuff. Did I type that out loud?). It would nice to meet you
in person if you're moving then.

Yeah, I mentioned the stats to my sister, who speculates in Real Estate in the Toledo, Ohio area, and she said she could get me 8 similar houses for that, although maybe we can quibble over neighborhoods. And my parents just bought a sprawl in Ohio on a big lot with a barn and a pond, at auction, I mentioned square footage, and my dad said "oh, that's cute, if you need a place to put it you can put it in our bedroom closet".

$459,000??? and why do you live in california? my barn is bigger than that on 6 acres w/3 bedroom house for $160,000.....wow. on the other hand, love the kitchen, cute shrimpy color and the backyard looks like a good spot for a pool! :}